Hilo police are on the lookout for a 27-year-old inmate who escaped Wednesday (April 10, 2002) from the Kulani Correctional Facility.

The escapee was identified as Shayne Kobayashi, who was serving time for a sexual assault conviction.

Responding to a 12:11 p.m. call from prison officials, investigating officers learned that Kobayashi was present at a 7:15 a.m. head count, but was discovered missing during a body count conducted at 11:45 a.m.

Kobayashi is described as being of Hawaiian-Japanese descent, being 5-feet-7 in height, weighing about 174 pounds with a medium build and having black hair and brown eyes. He also has miscellaneous tattoos on his right hand, left shoulder and chest area.

Anyone who sees the escapee is advised not to approach him, but to call the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. The numbers are answered 24 hours a day. Callers will be given a coded number and their identity will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if their call leads to an arrest, indictment or the recovery of property. Crime Stoppers neither subscribes to “Caller ID,” nor does it record phone calls.